Slidable fifth-wheel hitch having adjustable guides

ABSTRACT

A slidable trailer hitch apparatus comprises a trailer hitch head operable to receive a cooperating portion of a trailer, the trailer hitch head adapted to be slidable and rotatable relative to the vehicle about an axis of rotation, first and second parallel spaced part guides fixedly located relative to the vehicle, and a body affixed to and rotatable with the trailer hitch head, the body having a center of rotation about the axis and a distal surface adapted to engage either of the first or second guides when the body is rotated relative to the first and second guides. The engagement of the distal surface upon either of the first or second guides displaces the center of the body and the trailer hitch head parallel to the first or second guide when the trailer hitch head is rotated relative to the first and second guides.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/345,998, filed Feb. 1, 2006, which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This disclosure relates to hitches for connecting a trailer to avehicle, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for adjustablysecuring a portion of a trailer to a sliding a fifth-wheel trailer hitchhead assembly.

2. Description of Related Art

Trailers are often secured to a vehicle so as to enable the vehicle totow a load or a trailer containing recreational living quarters. Variousmeans have been adapted for connecting the trailer to the tow vehicleincluding what is known in the art as a fifth-wheel trailer hitch.

In a fifth-wheel trailer hitch, the trailer includes a forwardlyprojecting arm which includes a vertical kingpin projecting out of ahorizontal portion of the pin box. The kingpin is received within acorresponding slot of a trailer hitch plate located on the tow vehicle.The kingpin is then secured in the slot of the trailer hitch plate so asto enable the tow vehicle to tow the trailer.

The fifth-wheel trailer hitch assembly has many advantages that make itattractive for use in towing large trailers. Particularly, theengagement of a pin in a horizontal surface of the trailer hitchassembly allows the trailer hitch of a fifth-wheel hitch assembly to belocated at any location on a vehicle desired by a user. Correspondingly,a ball-type trailer hitch assembly is limited to being located at therear of a vehicle.

The ability to locate the trailer hitch assembly at any location desiredby the user enables the trailer hitch of fifth-wheel hitch assembly tobe located at the center of the vehicle at a point between the two rearwheels above the rear axle. Locating the trailer hitch assembly abovethe rear axle serves to transfer the portion of the weight of thetrailer applied on the trailer arm to a position above the axles ratherthan at a distance from the axles as in the case of a ball joint. Thisserves to reduce stresses imparted to the frame and bumper of a towvehicle. In addition the weight transferred to the rear tires of the towvehicle is not increased by as great a degree as is the case in a ballhitch where the distance from the ball hitch to the rear axle creates amoment arm thereby increasing the weight applied to the rear tires.

A conventional fifth-wheel trailer hitch assembly, however, includesseveral deficiencies. When the tow vehicle is towing the trailer in astraight line, the front edge of the trailer and the rear edge of thetow vehicle will be in a parallel orientation to each other. As the towvehicle negotiates a turn, however, the front edge of the trailer willbe rotated relative to the rear edge of the tow vehicle. This will bringone corner of the trailer closer to its opposing corner of the towvehicle. If the trailer arm connecting the trailer to the fifth-wheelhitch is not long enough, when the tow vehicle negotiates a turn, theaforementioned corner of the trailer may become quite close to or evencontact its corresponding corner of the tow vehicle.

Accordingly, relatively long trailer arms are necessary to provide ampleclearance between the trailer and the tow vehicle during all anticipatedorientations of the trailer relative to the tow vehicle. Opposing therequirement for longer trailer arms, is the requirement to maintainefficient operation of the vehicle and trailer. In order to maintainefficient operation of the vehicle and trailer, it is desirable tomaintain the distance between the trailer and the tow vehicle as low aspossible so as to reduce drag and instability.

In the past, a balance has been struck when selecting the distancebetween the trailer and the tow vehicle so as to allow efficientoperation while still enabling sufficient range of maneuverability. Whatis desirable is to provide a fifth-wheel hitch assembly which is able tomove rearward while turning to enable ample maneuverability of the towvehicle and trailer while being able to be subsequently moved forward toan optimal straight line tow position thereby shortening the distancebetween the tow vehicle and the trailer.

Various attempts have been made to provide a trailer hitch assembly thatis moveable with respect to the tow vehicle so as to increase themaneuverability of the tow vehicle and trailer. For example, variousattempts have been made to provide a sliding trailer hitch assemblywhich is lockable at a plurality of positions. In such a trailer hitchassembly, a user may unlock the sliding hitch assembly and slide it to asecond position. At the second position, the vehicle and trailer maynegotiate a tight turn. Thereafter, the user may unlock the slidingtrailer hitch assembly from the second position and slide it back to afirst position. Examples of such attempts may be shown in U.S. Pat. No.6,357,777.

Such trailer hitch assemblies having a sliding lockable assembly are notable to automatically move the pivot point of the fifth-wheel hitchassembly rearward when the vehicle begins to negotiate a turn. Ratherthe entire trailer and tow vehicle must be stopped so that the user maymanually reposition the hitch assembly. When the vehicle and trailerhave completed the turn, the vehicle must once again be stopped so thatthe hitch assembly may be moved back to it's preferred straight linetowing position. This is a time consuming process that a user isrequired to undertake before performing any turns of greater than agiven radius. In addition, if the user neglects to perform theseactivities before negotiating the turn, the aforementioned damage of thetrailer impacting the tow vehicle may still occur.

In addition, various attempts have been made to provide a pair ofsubstantially perpendicular slots with a common body having a pivot ineach of the slots. The body is connected to the trailer wherein theslots are located on a vehicle. When the trailer and thereby the body isrotated relative to the slots and the vehicle, the pivot located in aslot perpendicular to the vehicle is displaced laterally in the vehiclethereby allowing a pivot located in a slot parallel to the vehicle to bedisplaced longitudinally relative to the vehicle. As the trailer hitchis mounted substantially above the second pivot point, the trailer hitchwill accordingly be displaced longitudinally in the vehicle as thevehicle and trailer negotiate a turn. The resulting assembly is highlydependent upon anti-friction means such as grease or bearings.Accordingly, if the assembly is not maintained properly, large angleturns negotiated by the tow vehicle may induce too large a force on theassembly and may therefore jam the assembly. Examples of such a systemmay be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,977.

Previous pivotable hitches have also suffered from the difficulty ofrequiring an additional adapting plate to be affixed to the trailer forengaging the pivotable truck mounted hitch. The adapting plate has ashape corresponding to an opening in the pivotable hitch. Such adaptingplates, however are time consuming to install and limit the ability of anon-cooperating truck mounted hitch to pull such a trailer.

What would be desirable is a method and apparatus for engaging a portionof a trailer to a truck mounted trailer that is readily adaptable toreceive trailer portions of varying dimensions without requiringmodification to the trailer.

What would also be desirable is a simple way of providing a slidingfifth-wheel hitch assembly operable to automatically displace the pivotpoint of a trailer rearward in the tow vehicle as the tow vehicle andtrailer negotiate a turn and thereafter return the pivot point back tothe pre-selected straight line towing position when the trailer and towvehicle complete the turn.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for displacinga hitch for connecting a trailer to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

-   -   a trailer hitch head operable to receive a cooperating portion        of a trailer, the trailer hitch head adapted to be slidable and        rotatable relative to the vehicle about an axis of rotation;    -   first and second parallel spaced part guides fixedly located        relative to the vehicle; and    -   a body affixed to and rotatable with said trailer hitch head,        the body having a center of rotation about said axis, a first        orientation and a distal surface adapted to engage either of        said first or second guides when said body is rotated relative        to said first and second guides,    -   whereby said engagement of the distal surface upon either of the        first or second guides displaces said center of said body and        said trailer hitch head parallel to said first or second guide        when said trailer hitch head is rotated relative to said first        and second guides.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for rotationally fixinga trailer hitch head to a portion of a trailer hitch having a pin andparallel side surfaces, the apparatus comprising a rotatable trailerhitch head having a pair of adjustable opposed spaced apart hitchguides, said trailer hitch head being slidably moveable in response torotation of said trailer hitch head.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for displacing a hitchfor connecting a trailer to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

-   -   a trailer hitch head operable to receive a cooperating portion        of a trailer between an opposed pair of adjustable hitch guides,        the trailer hitch head adapted to be slidable and rotatable        relative to the vehicle about an axis of rotation;    -   first and second spaced, parallel displacing guides fixedly        located relative to the vehicle; and    -   a body affixed to and rotatable with said trailer hitch head,        the body having a center of rotation about said axis, a first        orientation and a distal surface adapted to engage either of        said first or second displacing guides when said body is rotated        relative to said first and second displacing guides,    -   whereby said engagement of the distal surface upon either of the        first or second displacing guides displaces said center of said        body and said trailer hitch head parallel to said first or        second displacing guide when said trailer hitch head is rotated        relative to said first and second displacing guides.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method ofdisplacing a hitch for connecting a trailer to a vehicle, the methodcomprising:

-   -   providing a trailer hitch head adapted to be slidably and        rotatably connected about an axis to the vehicle, the trailer        hitch head being adapted to fixably engage the trailer; and        rotating a body having a distal surface with said trailer hitch        head, the body being affixed to and coaxial with said trailer        hitch head so as to engage said distal surface on either of a        pair of spaced apart guides such that the axis of the body and        trailer hitch head are displaced relative to said guides when        said trailer hitch head is rotated with the trailer.

In a further aspect, there is provided a method of displacing a hitchfor connecting a trailer to a vehicle, the method comprising:

-   -   providing a trailer hitch head adapted to be slidably and        rotatably connected about an axis to the vehicle, the trailer        hitch head being adapted to fixably engage a cooperating portion        of the trailer between an opposed pair of adjustable hitch        guides; and    -   rotating a body having a distal surface with said trailer hitch        head, the body being affixed to and coaxial with said trailer        hitch head so as to engage said distal surface on either of a        pair of spaced apart displacing guides such that the axis of the        body and trailer hitch head are displaced relative to said        displacing guides when said trailer hitch head is rotated with        the trailer.

In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a method ofrotationally fixing a rotatable trailer hitch head to a portion of atrailer hitch, the method comprising:

-   -   providing a vehicle mounted rotatable trailer hitch head having        a pair of adjustable opposed spaced apart hitch guides;    -   locating a pin attached to the portion of the trailer within a        slot of said trailer hitch head, the portion having parallel        side surfaces; securing said pin within said slot; and    -   positionally securing said hitch guides to said trailer hitch        head adjacent to said side surfaces to prevent rotation between        said trailer portion and said trailer hitch head.

The apparatus and method of the present invention allow for automaticdisplacement of the pivot point of a trailer rearward in the tow vehicleas the tow vehicle and trailer negotiate a turn, and thereafterautomatic return of the pivot point to the straight line towing positionwhen the trailer and tow vehicle complete the turn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present invention are illustrated, merely by way ofexample, in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sliding fifth-wheel trailer hitchaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slide assembly, bottom guides andtoothed guides of the sliding fifth-wheel trailer hitch of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an alternative arrangement of thetrailer hitch using an elongated bridging plate.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the sliding fifth-wheel trailerhitch of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a cross sectional view of the alternative arrangement of FIG.2A.

FIGS. 4 a-4 c are process diagrams showing successive stages in theoperation of the sliding fifth-wheel trailer hitch of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 d-4 f are process diagrams showing successive stages in theoperation of the sliding fifth-wheel trailer hitch according to thealternative embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 3A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a trailer hitch head of the slidingfifth-wheel trailer hitch of FIG. 1 having adjustable trailer hitchguides.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the trailer hitch head of FIG. 5 showing theunderside of the adjustable trailer hitch guides.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the trailer hitch head of FIG. 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a trailer hitch according to a first embodiment ofthe invention is shown generally at 10. The trailer hitch comprises aframe 20 mountable to a bed of a vehicle (not shown), a slide assemblyshown generally at 60, and a trailer hitch head assembly 100. The frameis mounted longitudinally in the bed of the vehicle wherein thelongitudinal direction of the vehicle is shown generally at 24. Theslide assembly is slidably and rotatably received within a top slot 26in the frame 20 and supports the trailer hitch head assembly 100.

The frame comprises a body having first and second sides 28 and 30, afront and a rear end 32 and 34 respectively and a top 36. The topincludes first and second parallel spaced apart top guides 38 and 40wherein the first and second top guides define a longitudinal top slot26 therebetween. The first and second top guides 38 and 40 compriseelongated raised portions extending from the top 36 of the frame betweenthe front end and the rear ends 32 and 34 respectively. The first andsecond top guides 38 and 40 further include top surfaces 42 and 44operable to support the slide assembly 60.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a slide assembly is shown generally at 60. Theslide assembly 60 is comprised of a toothed gear portion 62 mounted on ashaft 64 having an axis 65. The shaft 64 further supports first andsecond bearings 66 and 68 (not shown in FIG. 2) about axis 65 and atrailer hitch head mounting assembly 70 at a top end of the shaft. Thefirst bearing 66 is adapted to be slidingly received between first andsecond top guides 38 and 40 of the frame. The second bearing 68 isadapted be slidingly received between first and second bottom guides 46and 48 respectively wherein the bottom guides 46 and 48 are attached toa bottom portion of the frame 20. The bottom guides 46 and 48 form abottom slot 50 therebetween in which the second bearing 68 is received.

As shown in FIG. 2, first and second toothed displacing guides 52 and 54are located in parallel spaced apart positions with the toothed gearportion therebetween. The first and second toothed displacing guides 52and 54 are connected to the frame 20 so as to be fixably locatedrelative to the frame. The first and second toothed displacing guides 52and 54 include a plurality of teeth 56 and 58 oriented along displacingsurfaces 57 and 59, respectively, operable to engage the gear teeth 72of the gear portion 62.

The first and second bottom guides 46 and 48 further includes a bridgingplate 74 bridging bottom slot 50 between the first and second bottomguides 46 and 48. The bridging plate 74 includes a first end and sidesurfaces 77 and 79 wherein a bearing 78 is secured to the first end 76of the bridging plate 74 by a bolt 80. The bearing 78 further includesan external circular bearing surface 82.

The slide assembly further includes a gear bar 84. The gear bar extendsradially away from the shaft 64 and includes a distal end 86 having anexternal bearing surface 88. As shown in FIG. 2, the gear bar isconnected to the gear portion 62, however, the gear bar may also becoaxially connected to the shaft 64. In addition, the slide assemblyfurther includes a support plate 90 having a bottom surface 92 adaptedto slidingly engage the top surfaces 42 and 44 of the first and secondtop guides 38 and 40 respectively. The trailer hitch head mountingassembly 70 further includes a means for securing the trailer hitch headassembly. As shown in FIG. 2, the means for mounting the trailer hitchhead assembly may comprise a pair of spaced apart uprights 93 and 95having respective bores 94 and 96 adapted to receive bolts or a pinconnected to the trailer hitch head assembly.

The trailer hitch head assembly includes a hitch plate 104 wherein thehitch plate 104 includes a U-shaped slot 106 adapted to receive acorresponding pin on a trailer. The hitch plate 104 includes first andsecond sides 108 and 110 respectively and a front edge and a rear edge112 and 114 respectively. The rear edge 114 may include a downwardlyinclined portion 116 so as to assist in the engagement of a trailer tothe trailer hitch assembly. The trailer hitch head assembly furtherincludes first and second parallel spaced apart hitch guides 118 and 120respectively located adjacent to the first and second sides 108 and 110respectively of the hitch plate 104. The first and second parallelspaced apart hitch guides 118 and 120 comprise an upstanding memberhaving a length substantially parallel to the trailer hitch plate. Thefirst and second spaced apart hitch guides 118 and 120 may furtherinclude an outwardly angled portions 122 and 124 respectively so as toassist in guiding the trailer hitch portion into the slot of the trailerhitch head.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a side view of an assembled sliding trailer hitchassembly is shown according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 3, the trailer hitch head assembly 100 isattached to the trailer hitch head mounting assembly 70 by passing a pin102 connected to the trailer hitch head assembly through bores 94 and96. As shown in FIG. 3, the slide assembly 60 is received in the frame20 wherein the support plate 90 rests on the top surfaces 42 and 44 ofthe first and second top guides 38 and 40. The first bearing 66 isreceived between the first and second top guides 38 and 40 wherein thesecond bearing 68 is received between the first and second bottom guides46 and 48. The gear portion 62 is received between the first and secondtoothed displacing guides 52 and 54 while the gear bar 84 extendsradially from the gear portion so as to engage upon the bearing 78.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the frame may includes a plurality of mountingholes 140 located on the first and second sides 28 and 30 of the frame20. The frame 20 may be secured to the bed of a vehicle by means ofattaching brackets 142 to the mounting holes 140 by way of bolts 144 asshown in FIG. 4 c. The mounting bracket 142 may then be secured to arail system (not shown) by bolts 146 wherein the rail system is therebysecured to the bed of a vehicle. The rail system may thereafter permitthe frame to be located at a plurality of positions within the bed ofthe vehicle. The frame 20 may also be secured to the bed of a vehicle bymeans of a load distributing bar 148. The load distributing bar 148 issecured to the bed of a vehicle and is attached to the frame 20 by meansof bolts 150 and 152 as shown in FIG. 1. It will be appreciated thatwhen the trailer hitch head assembly and slide assembly are at arear-most position as shown in FIG. 4 c, additional loads and torquesmay be applied to the bolts 146 and 144 on the mounting brackets 142 dueto the longitudinal distance between the applied load at the trailerhitch head assembly and the location of bolts 144 and 146. Loaddistributing bar 148 may reduce these loads and torques by providing anadditional support point closer to the applied load when the trailerhitch head assembly is at a rearmost location.

FIGS. 2A and 3A show an alternative embodiment of the trailer hitchwhich employs an alternative arrangement for controlling the movement ofgear bar 84. In FIGS. 2A and 3A, similar parts have the same referencenumber. The embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 3A employs a transition bar toguide the movement of gear bar 84. The transition bar includes anelongated bridging plate 74 for bridging bottom slot 50 between thefirst and second bottom guides 46 and 48. The elongated bridging plate74 includes elongated side surfaces 77 and 79 which extend adjacent thetoothed displacing guides 52 and 54. A first end 76 of elongatedbridging plate 74 defines a bearing surface to engage with the bearingsurface 88 of gear bar 84. This alternative arrangement avoids the useof a bearing 78, while elongated surfaces 77 and 79 act to provideadditional control over the movement of gear bar 84. Otherwise,transition bar 76 functions in a similar manner to the arrangement shownin FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the trailer hitch headassembly 100 is shown having adjustable trailer hitch guides 160.Adjustable trailer hitch guides 160 include securing portions 164 whichare parallel to a top plate 168 of the trailer hitch support 170. Theadjustable trailer hitch guides 160 may be secured to the trailer hitchsupport 170 by securing bolts 172 or other suitable means. The trailerhitch support 170 may include slots (shown as 190 in FIG. 6) throughwhich the securing bolts 172 pass so as to enable the adjustable trailerhitch guides 160 to be secured to the trailer hitch support 170 at aplurality of positions as indicated by arrows 174. The trailer hitchhead assembly may also include adjusting bolts 178 for facilitatingpositioning of the adjustable trailer hitch guides 160 at a desiredlocation as will be described in greater detail below.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a bottom view of the adjustable trailer hitchhead assembly is provided showing the underside of one of the adjustabletrailer hitch guides 160. As illustrated, the adjustable trailer hitchguides 160 may include a backing plate 180 which is operably connectedto the securing portions 164 of the adjustable trailer hitch guides 160with the top plate 168 of the trailer hitch support 170 therebetween.The backing plate 180 and the securing portions 164 may be connected bypassing securing bolts 172 therethrough which may be threaded into nuts182 below the backing plate 180 so as to retain the backing plate 180and securing portion 164 together on opposed sides of the top plate 168.The backing plate 180 may include a downtumed portion 184 adapted to beengaged by the adjusting bolts 178.

As shown in FIG. 6, the adjusting bolts 178 may be secured to thetrailer hitch support 170 by securing brackets 186. The adjusting bolts178 may be threadably secured within the securing brackets 186 orthreaded through backing nuts 179 which are secured to the securingbrackets 186. The adjusting bolts 178 include distal ends 181 which bearagainst the downtumed portion 184 of the backing plates 180. Theadjusting bolts 178 may optionally be longitudinally fixed and freelyrotatable relative to the securing bracket 186. In this optionalarrangement which is not shown, the distal ends of the adjusting boltsmay be threaded into the downtumed portion 184 of the backing plates180.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an exploded view of the adjustable trailerhitch head assembly is shown. As shown in FIG. 7, the top plate 168 ofthe trailer hitch support 170 includes slots 190 through which thesecuring bolts 172 may pass. The securing bolts 172 may be slidablylocated to a desired location within the slots 190 and thereaftertightened with the nuts 182 so as to secure the adjustable trailer hitchguides 160 at the desired location. Adjusting bolts 178 may also assistin urging the adjustable trailer hitch guides towards a portion of thetrailer (not shown) so as to ensure the adjustable trailer hitch guides160 closely engage the trailer.

Operation

In operation, a pin and support plate of a trailer may be received inthe U-shaped slot 106 of the trailer hitch between first and secondparallel spaced apart hitch guides 118 and 120. First and second spacedapart hitch guides 118 and 120 engage upon corresponding side surfacesof the trailer arm pin box thereby serving to align the trailer hitchhead assembly 100 with the trailer. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, thetrailer hitch head assembly 100 is positioned longitudinally aligned tothe frame 20 and the vehicle to which the frame is attached. In thisorientation, when a trailer is mounted to the trailer hitch headassembly 100, the trailer and the tow vehicle will accordingly be inlongitudinal alignment with each other. As the tow vehicle negotiates aturn, the tow vehicle and the trailer will move out of linear alignmentwith each other and there will therefore exist an angle between theirrespective longitudinal lengths. Due to the engagement of the first andsecond parallel spaced apart hitch guides 118 and 120 on thecorresponding side surfaces of the pin box, the trailer hitch headassembly 100 will remain longitudinally aligned with the trailer therebymoving the trailer hitch head assembly 100 out of linear alignment withthe frame 20 and the tow vehicle to which the trailer is attached.

Now referring to FIG. 4 a to 4 c, the sliding fifth-wheel hitch is shownin a series of three orientations. As shown in FIG. 4 a, the slidingfifth-wheel hitch is shown according to the orientation shown in FIGS. 1through 3 wherein the trailer, the tow vehicle and trailer hitch headassembly 100 are aligned with each other. As shown in FIG. 4 a, the gearbar 84 aligns with and abuts against the bearing 78. In addition, thegear teeth 72 of gear portion 62 do not engage upon the teeth 56 or 58of the first or second toothed displacing guides 52 and 54. In thisorientation, sliding of the slide assembly 60 is resisted solely by thegear bar 84 bearing upon the bearing 78.

Now referring to FIG. 4 b, the trailer hitch head assembly 100 is shownoriented in a second orientation in which the tow vehicle is negotiatinga turn to the right. According to the second orientation shown in FIG. 4b, as the tow vehicle negotiates a turn to the right, the orientation ofthe tow vehicle relative to the trailer will be changed in a clockwisedirection. Accordingly, the trailer hitch head assembly 100 will remainoriented with the trailer whereby the trailer hitch head assembly 100 isrotated counter-clockwise relative to the frame 20. As the trailer hitchhead assembly 100 is rotated counter-clockwise, the slide assembly 60 isrotated clockwise by an equal amount thereby rotating the gear bar 84out of alignment with the bearing 78. In addition, the gear teeth 72 ofthe gear portion 62 will be rotated into contact with the teeth 56 ofthe first toothed displacing guide 52. As the gear portion 62 is rotatedrelative to the first toothed displacing guide 52, the slide assembly 60will be displaced laterally within the top slot 26 towards the rear ofthe tow vehicle.

Now referring to FIG. 4 c, the tow vehicle and trailer have beenoriented at 90° to each other such that the trailer hitch head assembly100 has been equally rotated 90° relative to the frame 20. As shown inFIG. 4 c, the gear teeth 72 have engaged upon the teeth 56 of the firsttoothed displacing guide 52 and rotated relative thereto. The slideassembly 60 has been accordingly laterally displaced within the top andbottom slots 26 and 50 respectively. The trailer hitch head assembly 100has been displaced towards the rear of a vehicle with the slide assembly60. It will be appreciated that although the rotation of the slidingtrailer hitch assembly as shown in FIGS. 4 a through 4 c is shownwherein the tow vehicle is negotiating a turn to the right, the slideassembly may also be rotated in a direction clockwise relative to theframe assembly wherein the tow vehicle is negotiating a turn to theleft. This will correspondingly cause the gear teeth 72 of the gearportion 62 to engage upon the teeth 58 of the second toothed displacingguide 54.

The rotation of the trailer hitch head assembly 100 relative to theframe causes the gear bar 84 to move out of alignment with the bearing78 as well as cause the gear teeth 72 of the gear portion 62 to engageupon corresponding teeth 56 or 58 of one of the first or second tootheddisplacing guides 52 or 54. Accordingly, further rotation of the trailerhitch head assembly 100 relative to the frame causes the gear teeth 72of the gear portion 62 to displace the slide assembly 60 and trailerhitch head assembly 100 relative to the frame 20 within the top andbottom slots 26 and 50 towards the rear of the vehicle.

FIGS. 4 d to 4 f show the operation of the alternative embodiment of thesliding fifth-wheel hitch illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3A. As with thepreviously described embodiment, rotation of the trailer hitch headassembly 100 relative to the frame causes the gear bar 84 to move out ofalignment with the first end 76 of elongated bridging plate 74 so thatgear bar 84 engages with one of side surfaces 77 or 79 which guide andcontrol the movement of the gear bar. At the same time, gear teeth 72 ofthe gear portion 62 engage upon corresponding teeth 56 or 58 of one ofthe first or second toothed displacing guides 52 or 54. Accordingly,further rotation of the trailer hitch head assembly 100 relative to theframe causes the gear teeth 72 of the gear portion 62 to displace theslide assembly 60 and trailer hitch head assembly 100 relative to theframe 20 within the top and bottom slots 26 and 50 towards the rear ofthe vehicle.

The displacement of the trailer hitch head assembly 100 relative to theframe 20 and thereby relative to the vehicle in a longitudinal directionserves to move the pivot point of the trailer relative to the towvehicle towards the rear of the tow vehicle. The movement of the pivotpoint of the trailer relative to the tow vehicle towards the rear of thevehicle will serve to increase the distance between the front edge ofthe tow vehicle of the trailer and the rear of the tow vehicle therebyenabling greater maneuverability of the tow vehicle and trailer.

According to another embodiment of the trailer hitch as shown in FIGS.5-7, the adjustable trailer hitch guides 160 may accept support platesof trailers of differing sizes. In operation, the adjustable trailerhitch guides 160 may be spread apart by a sufficient distance toaccommodate the width of the support plate of the trailer. After the pinand support plate of the trailer are located within the U-shaped slot106 and between the adjustable trailer hitch guides 160, respectively,the adjustable trailer hitch guides 160 may be adjusted so as to closelyengage the support plate therebetween. The adjustable trailer hitchguides 160 may be so adjusted by slidably moving the securing bolts 172within the slots 190 when loosened from their corresponding nuts 182.Once positioned at the desired locations, the adjustable trailer hitchguides 160 may be secured in place by tightening the nuts 182 upon thesecuring bolts 172 until backing plate 180 and the securing portion 164securely retain the top portion 168 of the trailer hitch support 170therebetween.

Optionally, the adjusting bolts 178 may be used to urge the adjustabletrailer hitch guides 160 into close engagement with the support plate.The adjusting bolts 178 may be rotated within the backing nuts 179 orcorresponding threading of the securing bracket 186 as illustrated inFIG. 6. Such rotation will longitudinally displace the adjusting bolts178 and cause the distal ends 181 of the adjusting bolts 178 to bearagainst the downtumed portions 184 of the backing plate 180. Furtherrotation will urge the backing plate 180 as well as the adjustabletrailer hitch guides 160 to which they are connected through thesecuring bolts 172 in the direction of the support plate of the trailer.In an alternative optional arrangement, the adjusting bolts 178 may befreely rotatable within the securing bracket 186 wherein rotation of theadjusting bolts 178 threadably displaces the downturned portions 184 ofthe backing plates 180 into which the adjusting bolts are threaded.

It will be appreciated that the adjusting bolts 178 will also serve toretain the adjustable trailer hitch guides 160 against the supportportion of the trailer during operation of the trailer hitch. As set outabove the adjusting bolts 178 and their corresponding nuts 182 may alsobe tightened together to retain the adjustable trailer hitch guides 160at the desired position.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of theinvention only and not as limiting the invention as construed inaccordance with the accompanying claims.

1. An apparatus for displacing a hitch for connecting a trailer to avehicle, the apparatus comprising: a trailer hitch head operable toreceive a cooperating portion of a trailer, the trailer hitch headadapted to be slidable and rotatable relative to the vehicle about anaxis of rotation; first and second spaced, parallel displacing guidesfixedly located relative to the vehicle; and a body affixed to androtatable with said trailer hitch head, the body having a center ofrotation about said axis, a first orientation and a distal surfaceadapted to engage either of said first or second displacing guides whensaid body is rotated relative to said first and second displacingguides, whereby said engagement of the distal surface upon either of thefirst or second displacing guides displaces said center of said body andsaid trailer hitch head parallel to said first or second displacingguide when said trailer hitch head is rotated relative to said first andsecond displacing guides.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further includinga frame having first and second sides and a first end mountable to avehicle wherein said bearing guides are secured to said frame.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 further including brackets for securing said frameto the vehicle.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said brackets aresecured to said first and second sides of said frame.
 5. The apparatusof claim 4 wherein said frame includes at least one mounting hole forconnection to said bracket.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein saidframe includes a plurality of mounting holes for connecting said frameto said bracket at a plurality of locations.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4in which said brackets are secured to a rail system secured to a bed ofthe vehicle.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 further including a loaddistributing portion at said first end of the frame, said loaddistributing portion comprising a member adapted to be secured to thebed of the vehicle.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including abrace operable to prevent the displacement of said body and said trailerhitch head when said body is in said first orientation.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein said brace comprises a member extendingradially from said body.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said bracepermits displacement of said body and said trailer hitch head when saidbody rotated out of said first orientation
 12. The apparatus of claim 9wherein said brace engages upon a corresponding bracing surface fixablylocated relative to the vehicle.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 whereinsaid bracing surface is located on a projection extending parallel tosaid axis.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said bracing surface isfixably attached to said frame.
 15. The apparatus of claim 13 whereinsaid projection comprises a bearing.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said first orientation is parallel to the longitudinalorientation of the vehicle.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein saidengagement of the distal surface upon either of the first or seconddisplacing guides displaces said trailer hitch head substantiallylongitudinally with respect to the vehicle.
 18. The method of claim 17said engagement of the distal surface upon either of the first or seconddisplacing guides displaces said trailer hitch head towards the rear ofthe vehicle.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and seconddisplacing guides each include a displacing guide surface operable to beengaged by said distal surface.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19 whereinsaid distal surface is substantially circular having a radius about saidaxis.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said distal surface includesa plurality of radial projections adapted to be received in andinterlocked with a plurality of notches on each of said displacing guidesurfaces.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said plurality of radialprojections and notches comprise cogs.
 23. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said hitch guides are adjustable.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23wherein said hitch guides are slidably secured to said hitch head suchthat the distance therebetween may be adjusted to receive saidcooperating portions of a trailer varying widths.
 25. The apparatus ofclaim 24 wherein said hitch guides are secured to said hitch head byreleasable fasteners, wherein one of said hitch guides or said hitchhead includes slots through which said fasteners pass, said slotspermitting said hitch guides to be secured at a plurality of positions.26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said hitch guides include asecuring portion parallel to said hitch head, said securing portionincluding said slots.
 27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said hitchhead includes said slots.
 28. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein saidslots are substantially perpendicular to said hitch guides.
 29. Theapparatus of claim 25 wherein the other of said hitch guides or hitchhead includes a bore for receiving said fastener.
 30. The apparatus ofclaim 25 wherein said fastener comprises a threaded fastener.
 31. Theapparatus of claim 30 wherein said fastener comprises a securing bolt.32. The apparatus of claim 31 further including a nut cooperating withsaid securing bolt to releasably secure said hitch guides to said hitchhead.
 33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said bore is threaded toengage said threading on said fastener.
 34. The apparatus of claim 24further including adjustors adapted to urge said hitch guides towardssaid portion of a trailer.
 35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein saidadjustors comprise adjusting bolts threadably secured to said hitch headand having a distal end adapted to engage said guides.
 36. The apparatusof claim 34 wherein said hitch guides further include backing plateswherein said hitch head is secured between said backing plates and saidsecuring portions, said adjusting bolts engaging said backing plates.37. An apparatus for rotationally fixing a trailer hitch head to aportion of a trailer hitch having a pin and parallel side surfaces, theapparatus comprising a rotatable trailer hitch head having a pair ofadjustable opposed spaced apart hitch guides, said trailer hitch headbeing slidably moveable in response to rotation of said trailer hitchhead.
 38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said hitch guides areslidably and adjustably secured to said hitch head such that thedistance therebetween may be adjusted to receive said cooperatingportions of a trailer of varying widths.
 39. The apparatus of claim 38wherein said hitch guides are secured to said hitch head by releasablefasteners, wherein one of said hitch guides or said hitch head includesslots through which said fasteners pass, said slots permitting saidhitch guides to be secured at a plurality of positions.
 40. Theapparatus of claim 39 wherein said hitch guides include a securingportion parallel to said hitch head, said securing portion includes saidslots.
 41. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said hitch head includessaid slots.
 42. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said slots areperpendicular to the hitch guides.
 43. The apparatus of claim 39 whereinthe other of said hitch guides or hitch head includes a bore forreceiving said fastener.
 44. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein saidfastener comprises a threaded fastener.
 45. The apparatus of claim 44wherein said fastener comprises a securing bolt.
 46. The apparatus ofclaim 45 further including a nut cooperating with said securing bolt toreleasably secure said hitch guides to said hitch head.
 47. Theapparatus of claim 45 wherein said bore is threaded to engage saidthreading on said fastener.
 48. The apparatus of claim 38 furtherincluding adjustors adapted to urge said hitch guides towards saidportion of a trailer.
 49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein saidadjustors comprise adjusting bolts threadably secured to said hitch headand having a distal end adapted to engage said guides.
 50. The apparatusof claim 48 wherein said hitch guides further include backing plateswherein said hitch head is secured between said backing plates and saidsecuring portions, said adjusting bolts engaging said backing plates.51. A method of displacing a hitch for connecting a trailer to avehicle, the method comprising: providing a trailer hitch head adaptedto be slidably and rotatably connected about an axis to the vehicle, thetrailer hitch head being adapted to fixably engage a cooperating portionof the trailer between an opposed pair of adjustable hitch guides; androtating a body having a distal surface with said trailer hitch head,the body being affixed to and coaxial with said trailer hitch head so asto engage said distal surface on either of a pair of spaced apartdisplacing guides such that the axis of the body and trailer hitch headare displaced relative to said displacing guides when said trailer hitchhead is rotated with the trailer.
 52. The method of claim 51 furtherincluding disengaging a brace affixed to said body when said body isrotated out of a first orientation so as to enable said body and saidtrailer hitch head to be displaced, wherein said brace opposesdisplacement of said body when said body is in said first orientation.53. The method of claim 52 wherein said first orientation is orientedlongitudinally with said vehicle.
 54. The method of claim 51 whereinsaid body and trailer hitch head are displaced substantiallylongitudinally with respect to the vehicle.
 55. The method of claim 51wherein said body and trailer hitch head are displaced towards the rearof the vehicle as said body and trailer hitch head are rotated away fromsaid first orientation.
 56. The method of claim 51 wherein said hitchguides may be slidably adjusted to receive cooperating portions of atrailer of varying widths.
 57. A method of displacing a hitch forconnecting a trailer to a vehicle, the method comprising: providing atrailer hitch head adapted to be slidably and rotatably connected aboutan axis to the vehicle, the trailer hitch head being adapted to fixablyengage the trailer; and rotating a body having a distal surface withsaid trailer hitch head, the body being affixed to and coaxial with saidtrailer hitch head so as to engage said distal surface on either of apair of spaced apart guides such that the axis of the body and trailerhitch head are displaced relative to said guides when said trailer hitchhead is rotated with the trailer.
 58. A method of rotationally fixing arotatable trailer hitch head to a portion of a trailer hitch, the methodcomprising: providing a vehicle mounted rotatable trailer hitch headhaving a pair of adjustable opposed spaced apart hitch guides; locatinga pin attached to the portion of the trailer within a slot of saidtrailer hitch head, the portion having parallel side surfaces; securingsaid pin within said slot; and positionally securing said hitch guidesto said trailer hitch head adjacent to said side surfaces to preventrotation between said trailer portion and said trailer hitch head. 59.The method of claim 58 wherein said hitch guides are secured to saidhitch head by releasable fasteners, wherein one of said hitch guides orhitch head includes slots through which said fasteners pass, said slotspermitting said fasteners to be secured at a plurality of positions. 60.An apparatus for displacing a hitch for connecting a trailer to avehicle, the apparatus comprising: a trailer hitch head operable toreceive a cooperating portion of a trailer between an opposed pair ofadjustable hitch guides, the trailer hitch head adapted to be slidableand rotatable relative to the vehicle about an axis of rotation; firstand second spaced, parallel displacing guides fixedly located relativeto the vehicle; and a body affixed to and rotatable with said trailerhitch head, the body having a center of rotation about said axis, afirst orientation and a distal surface adapted to engage either of saidfirst or second displacing guides when said body is rotated relative tosaid first and second displacing guides, whereby said engagement of thedistal surface upon either of the first or second displacing guidesdisplaces said center of said body and said trailer hitch head parallelto said first or second displacing guide when said trailer hitch head isrotated relative to said first and second displacing guides.